Berhampur: Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday vowed to make Odisha the number one state of the country by 2036 coinciding with the 100th year of its formation and formally launched the poll campaign from his home constituency Hinjili in Ganjam district.
Outlining a 10-year development plan with a strong emphasis on empowering youths, he sought votes for ‘Jodi Sankha’ (both Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha candidates), a term believed to have been coined to counter BJP’s ‘double engine’ government slogan, on basis of his government’s performance. He also gave 5T transformation guarantee to the people.
The BJD supremo announced plans for a youth budget aimed at harnessing the potential of the sate’s young population for its development. “I promise 2024-34 will be a golden period for youths of Odisha. Our budget for the youth will focus on industrial investment, employment generation, and skill development,” Naveen said.
“The next 10 year will be known as the decade of Odisha as it will garner world’s attention for programme implementation. It will emerge as number one state in the country while celebrating it 100 years of formation as an independent state in 2036. Peace, prosperity and empowerment will be our identity,” he added.
Naveen asserted that BJD will continue its victory march on basis of its development programmes and the blessings of the people of the state. “The double conch is mark of development,” he said.
Listing out achievements of the BJD government, including beautification and development of different temples under Srimandir Parikrama Prakalpa, Samalei and Ekamra projects, he said: “Hinjli has become a model of development in whole country. The 5T school transformation programme was launched from Hinjili. Ama Hospital began from here and temple development programme started from Tara Tarini temple,” he said.
The CM also said that Odisha has played a pioneering role in many fields. “Odisha is a leading state in women empowerment, disaster management, PDS, and investment. The Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojna (BSKY) is unique in the country while special budget for farmers is first of its kind in the nation,” he said.
Elaborating further on transformational initiatives of his government, Naveen said, “Around 70 lakh women are driving transformation in the state. Farmers are getting loan at zero per cent interest. Likewise, Misson Shakti members have so far received Rs 18,000 crore interest-free loan. All these are important milestones in Odisha’s development. We have ensured that women in Odisha get their due rights.”
The BJD supremo also came down heavily on the opposition parties for obstructing various transformative initiatives in Odisha. “They (the Opposition) are indulging in politics in every matter and opposing development, which is our identity. People of Odisha are well aware of anti-development attitude of opposition parties. They know real character of opposition. Nobody has ever succeeded by opposing development.”
5T and Nabin Odisha chairman VK Pandian, several senior BJD leaders and ministers attended the programme at Hinjili. BJD’s Aska Lok Sabha candidate Ranjita Sahu was also present. Naveen is likely to file nomination from Hinjli on April 30. He will also be contesting from Kantabanji in Balangir district. The simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections will be held in Odisha in four phases from May 13 to June 1.